Did alliances cause WWI CB aim to explain

Did alliances cause WWI? C/B aim – to explain what alliances there were and how they contributed to WWI B/A aim – to explain the alliances and how the accelerated and deterred war. To reach an overall judgement. Why do countries make alliances? Are we in any alliances? Which alliance does this refer to? What does the cartoon suggest about that alliance?

Fill in the gaps in the table using pp. 50 -53 and p. 57, 59 Event Three Emperors alliance 1881 Triple Alliance 1882 Reinsurance Treaty 1887 Mediterranean Agreements 1889 Britain’s contemplation March 1890 Reinsurance Treaty lapsed 1894 Franco-Russian Alliance 1896 cooling of Anglo. German relations 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1904 Anglo-French Agreement 1907 Triple Entente signed Description Which countries felt stronger and why Which countries felt weaker and why What impacts could this have?

Event Description Three Emperors alliance 1881 A-H, Germany, Russia Triple Alliance 1882 A-H, Germany, Italy Reinsurance Treaty 1887 Russia and Germany, 1887 Mediterranean Agreements Britain signed with A-H, Italy and Russia 1889 Britain’s contemplation Thought to join with Germany March 1890 Reinsurance Treaty lapsed by 1890 as wanted to keep A-H, didn’t think Russia and France would join 1894 Franco-Russian Alliance ‘nightmare of coalitions’ 1896 -1898 changing Anglo-German relations Declined with Boer war, also distancing from France and russia, tried to end ‘splendid isolation’ by getting in to an alliance with Germany – led by Chamberlain 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance Against Russia, only about Pacific Area 1904 Anglo-French Agreement Entente Cordiale, mainly to settle colonial differences 1907 Triple Entente signed Russia signs agreement with Britain, forming the Triple Entente, mainly to settle fundamental differences over Tibet, Persia and Afghanistan Were Germany’s fears of isolation justified?

• Essay feedback – file them and fill in log sheets • Elites • Hamid and Roua – structure it with improving democracy/not improving democracy • Everybody else – carry on with thematic structure

• How did the alliances affect European relations by 1914? – Guled – Russia became increasingly anti-German (three emperors to lapsing reinsurance treaty to joined triple entente) which meant Russia and Germany were likely to be more aggressive – Britain was becoming increasingly involved (not involved in three emperors or triple alliance, to Mediterranean agreement to Triple Entente) which was making Germany increasingly isolated – Opposing blocks were forming (triple alliance, to Anglo-French, to Triple Entente) – Anglo-German relations changed from allies to rivals, blocks began to form around the two. (From attempted Anglo-German treaty, to attempted Chamberlain treaty to triple entente) • If you assume the elites became more powerful during Wilhemine Germany, such as in the Zabern affair, does this mean that democracy increased?

How did the alliances affect these countries from 1881 to 1914? How would these countries approach their foreign policy from 1881 to 1914? • • • Britain France Germany Russia Japan

• What was the position of Germany in 1890? – Good terms with Britain, Russia, Austria and Italy • What was the position of Germany by 1914? – Bad terms with Britain, Russia and Italy

Divide your A 3 sheet into 5 and write headings of these 5 theories. Summarise what they are and add any supporting knowledge you can. Wehler Domestic issues (such as growth of Social Democrats and Zabern affair) forced Prusso. German elites to pursue war as a means of deflecting public opinions – to so called ‘escape forwards’ theory. Fritz Fischer Germany held the most responsibility as they had an unquestionable desire to achieve German dominance in Europe Pogge von Strandmann It was a calculated war that Germany believed it could win in order to strengthen Germany’s domestic and diplomatic situation Strurmer It was an offensively conducted defensive war based on exposed geosrategic position of Germany Critics of Fischer’s Thesis Historians have criticised Fischer’s thesis and place blame with the Austro. Hungarians, Russians, the general defensive climate in Europe, imperialism, the ‘Eastern Question’, and the arms race.

In 1906, Britain launched the first Dreadnaught, the most modern ship of its time. It was quicker and carried bigger guns than other ships. Germany was jealous of Britain’s empire. The Kaiser (Emperor) wanted an empire as well. The Germans knew that they might one day have to fight both France and Russia, so in 1905 they drew up a plan to avoid this – the Schlieffen Plan. This was that Germany would invade France via Belgium (a neutral country) and quickly gain control. Then its army would turn and fight Russia. In 1907, Germany was proud of its navy. Germany wanted it to be as good if not better than, Britain’s. So the Nassau Class was built to compete with the British Dreadnought. The Austro. Hungarian Empire was made up of many countries. The different nationalities within the empire wanted independence. However, the Emperor wanted to keep all of his empire. In 1882, Germany Italy and Austria. Hungary formed the Triple Alliance. They promised to help each other if attacked. Britain promised to protect Belgium if it was attacked by Germany. Add this too. Add any information about the alliances. Russia wanted to take land from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so they were enemies. In 1907, France, Russia and Britain formed an alliance called the Triple Entente, which said they would help each other if attacked. Serbia wanted all the Slav people in the Austro. Hungarian Empire to be free and independent. Many Russians were also Slavs, so Russia promised to help Serbia against Austria-Hungary.

• C/B – summarise each interpretation and number them from strongest to weakest interpretation • B/A – which interpretation do you believe is most accurate? Give knowledge in your answer and explain why one is weaker

Homework – due Thursday 23 rd October + fill in your 5 section A 3 sheet with evidence from alliances and general facts sheet Reminder – Documentary viewing on Wednesday period Does this historian think that alliances were an important cause of WWI? 6. cause of WWI? Why do they or don’t they think alliances were an important Friedrich Kiessling, An Improbable War? , 2012. 1. 2. 3. Annotate the source with own knowledge to support their statements. 4. Annotate the source with own knowledge to challenge their statements.